In my opinion, exploitation of people and planet, is the normal mode of
operation mode. There are numerous analyses for why this occurs,
Capitalism, Patriarchy, Cultural-supremecy, Neo-colonialism, and many others.
The question then arises, how can we attempt to change this world and
what are the tools that we must use?
Many individuals see the world falling apart around them and then figure
the only thing we can do is change ourselves, modify our livestyles, go
green, go organic, be vegetarian/vegan. These are not not necessarily
bad ideas, however they tend to be very individualistic in approach. The
ethos of self-change and self-consiousness is an important component if
we are to ever consider a sustainable future but something else is
require in my estimation. I guess it requires politics; real grassroots,
rank-and-file movements from which we can generalize struggles. For
example the struggle against racism and the oppresion of the third world
is central to the development of sustainable agro-ecosystems.
In a period where there does not appear to me any cohesive political
movement; where liberals and lefties feel demoralized, the politics of
lifestyle become very appealing as it is an warm and environmentally
sensitive rug to hide under. I guess this is where we often seem to be.
As for the banality of Monsanto's evil:
Someone mentioned a encounter with a cashier selling gosling feather
products and the ethical pitfall that sort of employment leads us to. This in a way
sort of leads back to my first statement concerning the exploitation upon
which our society is founded. I don't think it is quite so easy to say
to this cashier "come work on my permaculture farm and avoid exploitation"
I offer this example:
My father is an autoworker at Chrysler Canada. Due to his trade he helps
produce perhaps the most destructive device on the planet, the
car. He however is a good person with a concern for the
environment and the rights of working people.
Our modes of employment and our ethical standards often collide with each
other. It generally is a priveledge few that are lucky enough to be able
to combine ethics with work. This priveledge was not available to my
father who came from a poor working-class background in Northern England.
Is the permaculture option open for him? Probably not as a full-time
career. Yet this doesn't mean that he can't help to change things.
Just a few friendly points..
Anyways methink I ramble on too much..
thanks